Gilbert Arenas took part in five-on-five halfcourt drills at Washington Wizards practice on Friday after sitting out scrimmages the previous two days. Wizards first-year coach Flip Saunders says the oft-injured Arenas has taken part in just about everything during training camp but a dislocated finger sidelined him for the scrimmages.
Author: admin
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Washington Report
Updates from Capitol Hill
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Dr Boyce Money: Learning Entrepreneurship from Madam CJ Walker
Filed under: Personal Finance, Dr. Boyce Money
The other day, I caught up with Fenorris Pearson, CEO of Global Consumer Innovations. Fenorris is not only a highly successful entrepreneur, he was also one of the youngest Vice Presidents at Dell Computer and a highly successful speaker in the African American community.
When asked about the keys to success, he points to a quote by Madam CJ Walker, the first female millionaire in American history.
Here is what Walker had to say:
“I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I was promoted to the cook kitchen. And from there I promoted myself into the business of manufacturing hair goods and preparations….I have built my own factory on my own ground.”
National Negro Business League Convention, July 1912
What’s the lesson from Madam Walker’s quote?The lesson from Walker’s experience is that when she thought like a laborer, she earned the wages of a laborer. When she began to think like an owner, that is when she opened the door for true wealth.
Mr. Pearson spoke this week at the Congressional Black Caucus Event alongside the Honorable Barbara Lee, a Democratic Congresswoman from California. In the seminar, Fenorris uses his experience as an entrepreneur and corporate titan to make the following points:
1) 95% of all new businesses eventually fail. In order to have a different set of outcomes, you must engage in a different set of activities. In order to ensure that you are not part of the other 95%, you should be fully committed, willing to take a few calculated risks, and do an extraordinary amount of planning in order to make your business succeed. You should also expect the unexpected – you never know what it’s like to run a company until you’ve done it.
2) Most of these business fail for the following reasons: Lack of access to capital, poor management, expanding too quickly or starting the business for all the wrong reasons. Pearson argues that many of these problems can be avoided if a company engages in proper planning and organizational strategies. One of the things I’ve noticed is that you can’t run a large company the way you once ran a smaller one. Many black entrepreneurs run into challenges as their companies grow, because they have not gotten used to the idea of delegation. Once your business reaches a certain size, you should find ways to share the more trivial tasks with others so you can focus on the more important objectives. A billionaire once said to me, “Running a company is not a matter of what you do, it is what you get others to do that actually matters.”
3) There are ways to avoid this kind of failure. With his company, Global Consumer Innovations, Inc., Pearson teaches business owners how to avoid the common causes of small business failure. He argues that by using specific steps toward proper product innovation and market delivery, a firm can find itself in a strong position in its chosen market.
When starting a business, the bottom line is this: The truest path toward wealth creation and social power within the black community is not through politics. The path to power is economic prosperity, combined with a conscientious desire to improve the plight of those around you. True activism is not achieved through charity and personal freedom is not achieved by hoping for it. By thinking like an owner and having a willingness to take intelligent risk, you can achieve your wildest economic dreams.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University, a prominent black speaker and author of the forthcoming book, “Black American Money.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. -
Chicago Loses Bid for 2016 Olympics
Chicago was eliminated in the first ballot of voting for the 2016 Olympics on Friday, a stunning defeat for the city that was expected to be one of the two finalists. Tokyo was also eliminated, leaving Rio de Janeiro and Madrid as the finalists.
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Chicago 1st city Eliminated for the 2016 Olympics
Posted by: The Hip Hop DEMOCRAT Well within a time span of 45seconds Chicago’s hopes and dreams of hosting the Olympics have been crushed. Chicago which was considered to be one of the favorites for the 2016 Olympic games was the first city eliminated from competition.
Just thinking about the Millions of dollars lost, trying to “convince” this committee to have the games here, and how that money could have been put to better use. Also Im thinking how millions of Chicago citizens will look at this as a great defeat, instead of realizing that there are bigger fights that we need to focus our attention on. I cant help but wonder if all the violence heavily publicized didn’t help either.
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Investing in the Future
Educating young minds for some 30 years is no small feat. But it was a love for children that inspired Larry and Brenda Breland to become schoolteachers. While educators don’t always get paid their true worth, these native Mississippians managed to retire from the public school system in 2002 with $180,000 combined from their state retirement plans. The couple also owns several rental properties valued at nearly $1 million, which provides about $3,000 in monthly rental income.
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Mariah Carey: Something in Common With Whitney Houston?
Filed under: Music
Arguably two of the most talented singers in the record books, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston have made names for themselves as commercially successful pop vocalists.
The careers of the two iconic beauties mirrored each other throughout the 1990s, with many people drawing comparisons between them. Both women were aligned with two of the most influential men in the music business, Tommy Mottola and Clive Davis, respectively, and both have survived controversy only to rise to the top of the charts again and resurrect their careers.
In our latest round of Tale of the Tape, we stack up “Mimi” and “The Voice” to see whether they had more in common than just their cultural impacts.
(M) Full Name: Mariah Carey
(W) Full Name: Whitney Elizabeth Houston(M) Birth date: Mar. 27, 1970
(W) Birth date: Aug. 9, 1963(M) Place of Birth: Long Island, N.Y.
(W) Place of Birth: Newark, NJ(M) Also Referred to As: “Mimi”
(W) Also Referred to As: “The Voice”(M) Humble Beginnings: Carey’s parents divorced when she was 3, leaving her mother to juggle several jobs to support the family. When the songstress moved to New York to pursue a singing career, she also worked several part-time jobs to pay the rent, in addition to attending beauty school and singing as a backup singer for several artists.
(W) Humble Beginnings: Whitney lived in housing projects in Newark, NJ. Her parents divorced when she was a teenager, and she chose to live with her mother. After performing her first gospel solo at New Hope Baptist Church at the age of 11, she was fortunate enough to sing background vocals on Chaka Khan’s hit single ‘I’m Every Woman.’(M) Connections to the Business: Dance/pop singer Brenda K. Starr (Mariah was a background singer for the ‘I Still Believe’ singer)
(W) Connections to the Business: Blues and gospel singer Cissy Houston (Whitney’s mom); Dionne and Dee Dee Warwick (Whitney’s cousins) mariah and Whitney(M) Album Debut: ‘Mariah Carey’ (1990)
(W) Album Debut: ‘Whitney Houston’ (1985)(M) Record Company Affiliations: Columbia, Virgin, Island
(W) Record Company Affiliations: Arista(M) Total Number-One Singles: 18
(W) Total Number-One Singles: 11(M) Total Number-One Albums:6
(W) Total of Number-One Albums: 5(M) Total Number of Albums Sold: Over 160 million (albums and singles)
(W)Total Number of Albums Sold: Over 140 million (albums)
(M)Total Marriages: 2
(W)Total Marriages: 1(M) Children: 0
(W) Children: 1 (Bobbi Kristina with former New Edition singer Bobby Brown)(M) Luther Vandross Affiliation: In 1994, Vandross and Carey recorded a duet of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s hit ballad ‘Endless Love’
(W) Luther Vandross Affiliation: Vandross produced, arranged and performed background vocals on Houston’s ‘Who Do You Love’ from her 1990 ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight’ album(M) Aretha Franklin Affiliation:Carey performed a duet of The Queen of Soul’s ‘Chain of Fools’ with the legendary soul singer at the 1998 VH1 ‘Divas Live’ television special.
(W) Aretha Franklin Affiliation: Franklin is Houston’s godmother and appeared in a cameo in the ‘How Will I Know’ music video. The two also recorded a duet, ‘It Isn’t, It Wasn’t, It Ain’t Never Gonna Be,’ which appeared on Franklin’s 1989 album Through the Storm. .’
(M) Antonio “L.A.” Reid Affiliation: The LaFace founder executive produced Carey’s 2005 comeback album ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ as well as her subsequent Island Records releases, including her new ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel.’
(W)Antonio “L.A.” Reid Affiliation: Reid, who previously produced songs on Houston’s ‘I’m Your Baby Tonight,’ was Arista head when her lackluster ‘Just Whitney’ album was released. What was promoted as her comeback album was Houston’s lowest selling album to date.(M) Michael Jackson Affiliation: In 1992, Carey covered the Jackson 5’s hit ‘I’ll Be There’ alongside her background singer Trey Lorenz. She also sang the song at the late King of Pop’s memorial service.
(W)Michael Jackson Affiliation: In 2001, the ‘I Will Always Love You’ singer made headlines when she opened the Michael Jackson ’30 Anniversary Concert Concert’ looking extremely thin.(M) Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Affiliation: Elliott was featured alongside fellow female MC Da Brat on a remix to the ‘Fantasy’ singer’s ‘Heartbreaker.’
(W) Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott Affiliation: The ‘Supa Dupa Fly’ rapper produced and appeared on two Houston tracks: ‘In My Business’ from ‘My Love Is Your Love’ and ‘Things You Say’ from ‘Just Whitney.’
(M) Fugees Affiliation: Carey and the Fugees were both signed to Columbia Records in the 1990s. More recently, the Fugees’ Wyclef Jean just recorded a song called ‘Mr. Autotune’ with Carey’s husband, Nick Cannon, in 2009.
(W) Fugees Affiliation: Fugees front woman Lauryn Hill produced and sang background vocals on ‘I Was Made To Love Him,’ a spunky update of Stevie Wonder’s 1960s classic ‘I Was Made To Love Her’ on Houston’s 1998 CD ‘My Love is Your Love.’ Wyclef Jean produced what became Houston’s third best-selling single and the album’s title track ‘My Love Is Your Love.’(M) Disney Connections: Disney Connections: Mariah Carey has never produced a Disney movie, unlike Whitney, but she still has love for the happiest place on earth. Two weeks after her Bahamas shotgun wedding to Nick Cannon, the couple headed back to the states for a very public vacation at Walt Disney World Resort to relive their childhood dreams. The ‘Fantasy’ singer, who previously performed at the 2004 Disney Christmas Day Parade, and her new hubby took pictures with Mickey and Minnie Mouse and rode tons of rides, including Space Mountain and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.
(W) Disney Connections: ‘The Bodyguard’ actress appeared alongside Brandy in the made-for-television movie ‘Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella,’ a revival of The Wonderful World of Disney series and produced by Disney. Houston has also served as a producer for the Disney franchises ‘The Cheetah Girls’ and ‘The Princess Diaries.’
(M) Total Number of Movies: 6 (including ‘Precious’)
(W) Total Number of Movies: 4(M) Movie Box Office Grosses: Over $27 million gross
(W) Movie Box Office Grosses: Over $12 million gross(M) Controversies: Marrying a much younger Nick Cannon after dating the ‘Bobby’ star for just a few months.
(W) Controversies: Caught with marijuana in her and then-husband Bobby Brown’s luggage on Jan. 11, 2000, at a Hawaii airport; getting fired from performing at the Academy Awards when she showed up jittery.(M) Rehabilitations: Hospitalized in 2001 for exhaustion, which led to a physical and emotional breakdown
(W) Rehabilitations: Rumored to have entered drug rehabilitation programs several times in the past decade at the urgency of mentor Clive Davis and her mother Cissy Houston.
(M) Comeback Efforts: Many people counted the Grammy Award winner out of the music business until the release of her 2005 comeback album, ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Not only did the critically acclaimed record garner 10 Grammy Award nominations, but it was also the biggest selling album of 2005 – amassing 10 million albums sold worldwide.
(W) Comeback Efforts: Houston’s 2009 comeback album, ‘I Look to You,’ debuted at number one and became the best-selling first week sales of Houston’s career. To date, ‘I Look to You’ is also the best selling album by a female in 2009.(M) Best Friend Forever: Background singer Trey Lorenz
(W) Best Friend Forever: Former long-time executive assistant and childhood friend Robin Crawford(M) Failed Vanity Projects: Founded short-lived Crave Records imprint, which most notably released R&B girl group Allure‘s debut project; Automatic Princess Jewelry line
(W) Failed Vanity Projects: Mentored Newark gospel group Sunday; the panned ‘Family First’ song with Houston, her mother, Cissy and her cousin Dionne Warwick, which was featured on the soundtrack to Tyler Perry‘s ‘Daddy’s Little Girls’(M)Famous Boyfriends: Mexican singer Luis Miguel, New York Yankee baseball player Derek Jeter
(W) Famous Boyfriends: R&B singer/sex tape star Ray J, movie star Eddie Murphy, NFL quarterback Randall Cunningham
(M) Family Feuds: Carey’s estranged HIV-positive sister Alison, who has been arrested twice for prostitution, shopped a tell-all book about her multi-millionaire sister in 2000. The tome was never released.
(W) Family Feuds: In 2002, associates for Houston’s 81-year-old father, John Houston, sued the pop star for $100 million, claiming unpaid compensation for helping negotiate her Arista Records contact. Houston claimed the dispute arose by people attempting to take advantage of her ailing father, and the suit was later dismissed.(M) TV Interviews Gone Wild: In 2001, pushing an ice cream cart, Carey appeared on the popular MTV video countdown show ‘Total Request Live’ for an interview with VJ Carson Daly to promote her ‘Glitter’ movie. Wearing a small T-shirt and booty shorts, Carey performed a striptease and slurred “I just want one day off when I can go swimming and eat ice cream and look at rainbows.” Carey checked into the hospital for exhaustion shortly thereafter.
(W) TV Interviews Gone Wild: The Whitney Houston quotable “Crack is Wack” came from her infamous Diane Sawyer sit-down in 2002. When questioned about her rumored drug use, the troubled singer asked Sawyer to “show her the receipts” for the drugs, among other things. The interview was one of the last that Houston did before taking a hiatus from the media. Her first televised interview since Sawyer did not come until 2009 with a widely-publicized two-day special appearance on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’
(M) Famous Celebrity Battles: Detroit rapper Eminem and Carey were at one point rumored to be a couple, then things got ugly. She recorded diss records like ‘Clown’ and her current single ‘Obsessed’ aimed at the ‘Slim Shady’ lyricist. And though, the ‘Precious’ star is sticking to her story that she never slept with Eminem, he maintains otherwise. He dished on being intimate with her and replied to her latest hit with a song called ‘The Warning,’ directed at both the singer and her latest husband, Nick Cannon.
(W) Famous Celebrity Battles: Houston and radio-shock-jock-turned-talk-show-host Wendy Williams had an on-air beef that played out in 2003 in which Williams questioned Houston about her rumored drug use. Houston responded with curse words, most notably charging, “If this were back in the day in Newark, I’d meet you outside, but not now, because I’m a lady with class.” The New York Times best-selling author has since said she has buried the hatchet and is eager to have the ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’ singer on her syndicated talk show.
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,localizationConfig,entry&id=736610&pid=736609&uts=1254440772http://www.aolcdn.com/ke/media_gallery/v1/ke_media_gallery_wrapper.swfMariah Carey: Through The YearsMariah Carey: Through The Years
Since releasing her 1990 debut, Mariah Carey has survived a highly publicized divorce, getting dropped from one of the most lucrative recording contracts in music history and even a stint of exhaustion. But she returned to the top of the charts with one of the most successful albums in the past five years. On the cusp of her new ‘Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel’ album release, Blackvoices.com pays homage to the best-selling female artist of all time.Ron Galella, WireImage / Bob King, Redferns / LionsgateMariah Through The Years
Mariah Through The Years:
For Mariah Carey, having more number one songs than any solo artist in America has been a credit to the company that this five-time Grammy winner has kept since making her music debut in 1990. From people behind the scenes like L.A. Reid and Jermaine Dupri to some of her past loves like Tommy Mottola, Derek Jeter and now husband Nick Cannon, each man has played a significant role in inspiring the music that has made this 39 year-old singer/songwriter famous. Blackvoices.com takes a look at the men who have inspired Mariah Carey over the years.Tommy Mottola – Husband
No one is more responsible for Mariah Carey’s success than former Columbia Records head Tommy Mottola. After receiving Carey’s demo from artist Brenda K. Starr, for whom Carey sang backup, he signed her on the spot. While recording her 1990 debut, the two became romantically involved and tied the knot in a lavish ceremony in 1993. Just three short years later, they split, and a divorce was finalized in 1998.Luther Vandross – Musical Collaborator
The five-octave singer was fortunate enough to be one of the few entertainers to record a duet with the late Luther Vandross. Their cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross‘s ‘Endless Love’ became Vandross’ biggest pop hit. It was the second single released from his ‘Songs’ album and was also included on two Carey albums: ‘Greatest Hits’ in 2001 and ‘The Ballads’ in 2008.Trey Lorenz – Backup Singer
In 1992, Carey performed an MTV ‘Unplugged’ special to show nonbelievers that she was not a studio singer. Her cover of the Jackson 5‘s ‘I’ll Be There’ with her longtime backup singer Trey Lorenz was later released as a single and became a number-one hit in the United States. Lorenz was able to score a record deal from the duet, and Carey co-produced his debut. On July 7 of this year, the two performed the song at the Michael Jackson memorial, which was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center.Jermaine Dupri – Producer
It’s not a well-known fact that Jermaine Dupri has been working with Carey for nearly 15 years. In 1995, Carey worked with the So So Def Records founder on ‘Always Be My Baby,’ from her ‘Daydream’ album. It became the most successful record on U.S. radio that year. And though these two worked on several remixes together over the years, their magic came a decade later when J.D. produced four songs on ‘The Emancipation of Mimi,’ Carey’s 10th studio album and most successful to date.ODB – Musical Collaborator
Since rapping ‘Me and Mariah go back like babies and pacifiers,’ Ol’ Dirty Bastard, the late Wu Tang Clan MC, helped solidify Carey in the world of hip-hop and R&B. The 1995 remix to ‘Fantasy’ became a number-one hit. The friendship between Carey and ODB lasted throughout the years. The songstress even met the rapper upon his release from jail in 2003.Mase – Musical Collaborator
‘Honey’ was Carey’s 12th number-one song. Before turning his life over to God and becoming a minster, Bad Boy rapper Mase appeared on the popular remix of the record, alongside the Lox and Diddy. The song, which also had its own video, was featured on Carey’s 2003 remix compilations, aptly titled ‘The Remixes.’Derek Jeter – Alleged Beau
Shortly after divorcing husband Tommy Mottola in 1998, the five-time Grammy award winner met New York Yankee shortstop Derek Jeter at a Fresh Air Fund gala in New York. The couple connected over their interracial parents – black fathers and Irish mothers. The public romance ended short of the one-year mark. In an interview with Parade magazine, Carey said “It was the wrong time. …Our two worlds were just too much for that moment.”Eminem – Alleged Beau
From ‘Clown’ to ‘Obsessed,’ Carey has documented her disdain for Detroit MC Eminem in her music. The ‘Glitter’ actress denies they ever slept together, but Slim Shady has consistently rapped that the two were intimate. The rapper, whose real name is Marshall Mathers, sent threats to Carey via the 2009 diss track ‘The Warning,’ which was directed at both Carey and her husband, Nick Cannon.Nick Cannon – Husband
Nick Cannon, 28, dated singer-actress Christina Milian and was even engaged to Victoria’s Secret model Selita Eubanks for five months before becoming Carey’s second husband. In 2005, he convinced the Teen Choice Awards to let him present Carey’s award for ‘The Emancipation of Mimi.’ Two years passed, and the couple was reunited in 2007. Their whirlwind romance resulted in a quickie wedding in 2008 at Carey’s Bahamian estate, Windermere.Permalink | Email this | Linking Blogs | Comments
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Replacement refs make uneventful debut (AP)
The NBA's replacement referees were a non-issue in the preseason opener, just as the league wanted. The Utah Jazz beat the Denver Nuggets 103-87 on Thursday night in an exhibition game that featured 69 fouls and very little objection to any of them. Whether it was preseason indifference or players and coaches heeding to the league warning to be nice to the new officials, there wasn't much…
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Some Five Tips for Affordable Pre-Wedding Celebrations
Perhaps one of the most popular and best loved wedding traditions is the pre-wedding celebrations like the wedding shower and bachelor parties. Usually these parties are supplied by the mother of the bride or the best man etc. Some couples find that they …
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Tigers fail to clinch, lose 8-3 to Twins (AP)
Those pesky Twins forced the Detroit Tigers to keep their champagne on ice. Scott Baker got plenty of run support and pitched Minnesota to a testy 8-3 victory on Thursday, preventing the Tigers from clinching their first division title in 22 years. Minnesota avoided elimination from the playoff race and moved within two games of the first-place Tigers with three to play.
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Rockies win to wrap up playoff spot (AP)
It's a Rocktober redux for the Colorado Rockies, who are back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus. "It stings," Troy Tulowitzki said as he squinted away the tears that were flushing the champagne out of his eyes. "But I've never forgotten '07 and it's great to experience it again.
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Favre not out for revenge vs. Packers (AP)
One minute, Brett Favre sternly insists he isn't out for revenge against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. The next, he says it's only human for him to feel like he has something to prove to the team that traded him. In his first extended interview session with Wisconsin-based reporters since well before his unretirement saga went public last summer, Favre reluctantly revisited his…
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O’Neal reports to Cavs in great shape (AP)
Once Mike Brown learned that Shaquille O'Neal was wearing a Speedo on national television, he wasn't concerned about his new star's physical conditioning. The Cleveland Cavaliers center spent the offseason filming his reality show "Shaq Vs," in which he competed against various top athletes in their sports.
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Foot puts Favre on Vikes’ injury report (AP)
Brett Favre is on Minnesota's injury report for the first time this season. The 39-year-old quarterback was listed Thursday as being limited in practice because of a foot injury. After the Vikings beat San Francisco last Sunday, Favre complained of aching in his right foot, left knee, both shoulders and neck.
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Lauren London Comes Out Again…
Posted by: BlogXilla Lauren London has been making the rounds since she had the baby as she hooked up w/ Lala, Vanessa and others got together for a dinner party.
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Stick With Your Core Values in Good Times and Bad
Although some economists claim the recession is over, it certainly doesn’t feel like it for most entrepreneurs. Despite signs of a rebound, a number of businesses must fight to keep the lights on.
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Ricco Barrino Ft. Young Dro "Stupid Problems Remix
Posted by: TheHip-HopChronicles <p>New track Ricco Barrino ft. Young Dro. Grand Hustle!! SEE ORIGINAL STORY TO CHECK IT OUT.
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Financial Lovemaking: Who Keeps the Ring if the Engagement is Called Off?
Filed under: Personal Finance, Dr. Boyce Money
This video below answers an important question that many of us may end up confronting at some point in our lives: If you are engaged to be married and the engagement doesn’t work out, do you have to give the ring back? The answer is “yes” and “no,” depending on the state in which you live.
There are other questions about nuptials that make you say “hmmmm?”
1) If you give a gift to someone who has gotten married, do they get to keep the gift if they either cancel the wedding or get divorced shortly thereafter?2) Is it tacky to specify that your gift is conditional, meaning that you’re going to take it back if the wedding doesn’t happen or the marriage ends too quickly?
3) What if you spend a wad of cash attending someone’s wedding, only to find that the bride and groom get cold feet? Do they owe you a refund?
4) Does possession of the ring depend upon who called off the wedding? For example, if the prospective groom calls off the wedding, should he then be obligated to give up the ring too?
Christopher Chestnut, a prominent attorney out of Florida, states that ” Marital law is state specific, thus law governing marriage and divorce differ depending upon the state. However, in many states an engagement ring is considered a gift, consequently, a legal claim for return of a ring is likely to be unsuccessful.”
I’d love to hear your stories and take on this issue, but here is a quick run down on my own thoughts:
-Yes, it is tacky to specify a wedding gift as being conditional upon going through with the ceremony. If you are worried about losing your money, then don’t buy an expensive gift.
– A gentleman would not ask for his ring back if the engagement is called off, but a true lady would not try to keep the ring either. Think carefully about the integrity of the person you choose to marry. If you are the one who calls off the engagement, then you are effectively the one who is in breach of the contract, which then specifies that you should arguably be the person who takes the loss. To share a personal experience, I was once engaged to an amazing and beautiful woman, and when the engagement was mutually called off, the loss of our love far outweighed the value of any simple piece of jewelry. She gave me the ring back, but I didn’t even think to ask for it. This was a reflection of her character.
– When it comes to traveling for another person’s wedding, everyone is taking a risk. The cost is high and you aren’t likely to get your money back. If the person is a good friend, just write off the financial loss as the cost of preserving your friendship.
In the video below, an attorney breaks down the legalities of rings and marriages. Enjoy!
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Finance Professor at Syracuse University and author of “Financial Lovemaking 101: Merging Assets with Your Partner in Ways that Feel Good.” To have Dr. Boyce commentary delivered to your email, please click here. -
Kim Zolciak: ‘Real Housewives’ Star Talks About Her Past Working in Strip Club
Filed under: Television, Celeb Updates, Star Quotes
Being a stripper may have been part of Nene Leakes‘ history, but ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ star Kim Zolciak is clear she has never been a part of that lifestyle.“I’m honest about the fact that I’m dating a married man, [If I’d been] a stripper, why wouldn’t I tell you?” the aspiring singer charged to Life & Style magazine.
That doesn’t mean she hasn’t worked at a strip club, though. Zolciak admits having “served as a waitress” at Cheetah, a downtown Atlanta strip club.
The mother of two has always said that her mystery boyfriend “Big Poppa” (rumored to be Atlanta-based real estate mogul Lee Najjar) has afforded her a lifestyle in which she does not have to work.
Zolciak tells the tabloid that the father of her two daughters, Brielle, 12 and Ariana, 7, has given her “no child support and no alimony.”
Before her role in the hit Bravo reality television series, the blonde bombshell said she was actually working as a nurse.
In last week’s episode of ‘Housewives,’ she discussed reconciling with Big Poppa, who is said to make an appearance later this season.
Now, Zolciak is focused on a new wig line and a budding singing career, thanks to co-star Kandi Burruss‘ assistance in reworking her song ‘Tardy for the Party.’ The single has reached the top 10 dance charts on iTunes, and Bravo just released a video montage set to the track on its Web site.
http://xml.channel.aol.com/xmlpublisher/fetch.v2.xml?option=expand_relative_urls&dataUrlNodes=uiConfig,feedConfig,entry&id=728030&pid=728029&uts=1254332651http://cdn.channel.aol.com/cs_feed_v1_6/csfeedwrapper.swfReal Deal On Real Housewives of AtlantaReal Deal On ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’
The second season of the Bravo network reality series ‘The Real Housewives of Atlanta’ is a hit. BlackVoices.com invites you to take an inside look at the major players of the series that has become the latest guilty pleasure for millions of TV viewers.BravoBlackVoices.comMel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl “Mel B” poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of “Pose for the Cure” web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the ‘Susan G. Komen for the Cure’ fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl “Mel B” poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of “Pose for the Cure” web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the ‘Susan G. Komen for the Cure’ fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the ‘In My Name’ global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of “Pose for the Cure” web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the ‘Susan G. Komen for the Cure’ fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O’Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O’Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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Phils clinch third straight East title (AP)
Players doused each other with champagne and beer in the clubhouse and on the field. Fans partied in the stands. Manager Charlie Manuel enjoyed the celebration from his office. The Philadelphia Phillies won another NL East championship. Now they can rest and prepare to defend their World Series title. "I'll celebrate when we get to the big one," Manuel said.
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Tigers move closer to AL Central crown (AP)
Magglio Ordonez is supposed to help the Detroit Tigers win titles. Eddie Bonine is a bit of a surprise. Ordonez hit a three-run double, Bonine lasted five innings after a shaky start and the Tigers beat the Minnesota Twins 7-2 on Wednesday night to move closer to the AL Central title. "You need everyone on your team to step up right now, and that's what happened tonight," Detroit…
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Damn!!!! Tammy Torres & Rosa Acosta Photo Shoot
Posted by: Illmatic Behind The Scenes Of The 2010 Tammy Torres & Rosa Acosta Calendar Photo Shoot.
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NBA prohibits Twitter use during games (AP)
The NBA is instituting a policy regarding Twitter and other social media sites, banning players from using them during games. The league sent a memo to teams on Wednesday telling them that cell phones and other communication devices can't be used from 45 minutes before game time until after players have finished their responsibilities after games.
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Motion to dismiss Big Ben lawsuit denied (AP)
A Nevada judge denied motions by lawyers for Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to dismiss a civil lawsuit alleging he raped a Lake Tahoe casino worker, according to court documents released Wednesday. Washoe District Judge Brent Adams rejected arguments that the suit should be dismissed, saying the woman's allegations make a "sufficient" claim that if proven, would…
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Anderson to start at QB for Browns (AP)
Two years ago, the Cleveland Browns turned their woeful offense over to Derek Anderson and won 10 games. Eric Mangini can only hope it happens again. With his first season in Cleveland already unraveling, Mangini benched Brady Quinn in favor of Anderson, who rode a similar opportunity in 2007 to an appearance in the Pro Bowl.
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Lose Pounds How Should One Start
One of the most pressing tasks of humans living today is the issue of health and correct weight standards. Being a rather subjective matter, since proper weight would basically be relative to a persons height, age, and maybe even general build, reducing …
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Cavs’ Williams: LeBron, Shaq a great fit (AP)
Mike Brown still can't believe he is coaching two superstars. Mo Williams called it destiny. The Cavaliers don't care if destiny equals dynasty — they'd be happy to win that first NBA championship. LeBron James and Shaquille O'Neal have practiced together for only two days. Despite the small sample size, Williams has seen enough to expect the 7-foot-1 O'Neal will blend nicely…
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Soulja Boy – I Done Came Up
Posted by: ImGlobalNow Soulja Boy’s going hard with the viral videos. Check out this Jordan Tower directed clip “I Done Came Up.”
Click ORIGINAL STORY for the video!